Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99F .308 ?

I recently acquired a beautiful piece of history and a great rifle. The serial numbers are 9032xx but the boss code is hard to make out. The inspector number is perhaps 17 and possibly a C is stamped beside this number. It appears to have been drilled and tapped for a scope from the factory. It has the barrel band and the factory rear sight and the stock has not been cut with the butt plate and wood with matching numbers. Can you tell me some more about this rifle?

Thanks, in advance!

Nice.

The rifle has sling studs that was not possibly from the factory?

No factory sling studs although it is nearly impossible to find even a minty post war F without them

It is a post war F made from 55-59 or so. C boss code would make it 1951. Not possible in this case

55 is G
56 is H
57 is I
58 is J
59 is K

Factory D&T

Made in 1955, first year the Winchester cartridges (243/308/358) in any 99 were produced, as well as the intro of the model 99F. There was a change to the internals to handle these longer cartridges, and so 99’s in these cartridges started at serial number 900,000. 99F’s/Eg’s/R’s in 300 Savage and 250-3000 continued to be produced with serial numbers in the 700,000 range simultaneously for a while.

Very popular with collectors and hunters. All Winchester cartridge 99’s will be factory d&t for scope bases.

The Boss code was not evenly hit ......so maybe the G is the letter that would fit this rifle!

Most likely a poorly struck G

I plan on using this rifle for what it was made to do! I have tremendous respect for classic rifles, as well as collectors, but as long as I'm capable of stompin the woods.......I will use them as their purpose. I have fired this rifle three times with factory open sights and haven't missed the mark yet. I plan to top off with a small optic glass for my woodlots.

Bring back some pics when you get it out in the field. Always appreciate seeing these guns being used.

I would love to find a rifle like this.

I have been looking for a NICE model 99 for some time......one that hasn't looked like it been thrown off a cliff, been beat over some rocks, completely without blueing etc.etc. But I have to say....if they are still in circulation.....they must still work!

i have a post mil F (by about 60 units) in 308. sweet handling and deer killing machine.
most folks complain about the recoil of the 308 in the F , but i just can't feel it.
onelostsoul, we need pictures!
pic of mine

I agree with recoil.........I thought it was very pleasant and could not wait to cycle the next round to fire!

Oh mercy, you two are gunna start a riot! Ever-body here knows the 99F in 308 kicks the ever lovin snot outa ya!

I do think that pre mill Fs deliver more punishment than post mills. No scientific proof but that is my personal opinion.

Just load it with 150s to 2650fps, you’ll drop anything south of Canada, and you won’t beat up yourself or the rifle.

I really want to test that opinion!
would love to pick up a pre-mil.
shot my F 308 60 rounds today . went to pay it some attention after posting here about it and decided it needed a different scope mounted on it. of course then i had to sight it in. got carried away i guess. got it putting 168g CT silver tips into .75 inch for 5 shots. think i made the right move with the new scope!

I was stuck on OP's description stating "barrel band", and thought this must be a neat one-off custom(!!)..., then I sent tinkerbell home...

Sounds like a good 99F find, good for you!

I bought these two not too long ago, I guess they are F’s. One is a 308 and the other is a 358. The 308 is a 9456xx serial number. I forgot to write down the serial number of the 358. They both shoot very well especially the 358. I wish I had discovered 99’s when I was younger. I learned about them from you fellas, Fireball2 sold me my first one. He told me they were addictive. He wasn’t bullcshitting about that. The 308 has no sling.

I have a 99F 308Win that I acquired a few months ago, to bring my collection to three. The LBC is an H, which makes it the same year of manufacture as me, 1956. I find that very cool! The serial # is 9134XX. In David's book, on page 84. it lists start serial #'s for that year at 7731XX, and the start # for '57 at 927489. That seems a bit curious to me. Did Savage actually produce 150,000 99's that year, or is there some other explanation?